Modeling and analysis for the development of Lightweight Piezoceramic Composite Actuators (LIPCA)

This paper focuses on the modeling and analysis of Lightweight Piezoceramic Composite Actuators (LIPCA) for developmental purposes. A simple analytical model and a numerical model for predicting the displacement of the actuators due to both an applied input voltage and transverse load to the piezoelectric ceramic layer are presented. The analytical model describing the laminated beam actuation results in two primary design parameters, an actuation coefficient of a laminated beam Culb and the bending stiffness of a laminated beam EIlb. The Culb is a parameter when maximum displacement is required. The bending stiffness affects the displacement performance when a transverse load is applied to the actuators. An experiment was performed to verify the proposed laminated beam model. The numerical model, a NASTRAN finite element model, is used to assess the effect of initial dome heights of actuators on the displacement. An increase in the initial dome height produces a positive effect for the low anisotropic actuators and gives a negative effect for the high anisotropic actuators. In conclusion, the results indicate that designing to maximize the Culb, the EIlb, and the initial dome height of the low anisotropic actuators could generate LIPCA-type actuators with larger displacement and higher force.